Practical Advice for Beginners with Helen Van Wyk
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2024
- This lesson by Helen Van Wyk explains the differences between using a pencil and a brush, highlighting the versatility of the brush.
It is designed to be an initial lesson for beginners, students and a refresher lesson for seasoned artists.
There are an abundance of concepts in this lesson, as in all of Helen's lessons, so please pay close attention to her commentary.
Brush vs. Pencil
Unlike a pencil, which creates lines, a brush can perform three distinct functions.
Planning the Composition
Helen stresses the importance of planning the layout to ensure elements like flowers and handles are properly placed.
Painting Strategy
The saying "Start with a broom and finish with a needle" means to begin with broad strokes and end with fine details.
Background First
Helen starts with the background using brownish tones, focusing only on this aspect to avoid multitasking.
Simpler Subjects for Beginners
Beginners should choose simple subjects to learn how to contrast tones and push one tone against another.
Painting Technique
Start from the middle and move outwards for better edge definition.
Personal Style
Helen encourages embracing mistakes as part of a personal style, noting how famous artists like Van Gogh and Rembrandt have recognizable styles.
Depth and Shadows
Using darker tones to create cast shadows adds depth and dimension to the painting.
Stage One Completion
Helen describes finishing the first stage with broad brushstrokes and stepping back to assess the work from a distance.
Adding Details
Helen adds handles, the spigot, and further develops the pot by lightening it, focusing on tone rather than color.
Proportion and Depth
Emphasizing the importance of proportion and depth in painting, Helen suggests starting with the back and move forward to create depth.
Brush Techniques
Helen advises using multiple brushes for different tasks. Don't use the same brush for everything.
Avoiding "kisses"
Don't let elements touch and confuse the drawing. Maintaining clear separations between elements as necessary to avoid kisses.
Shadows and Highlights
Helen accentuates shadows and highlights to create dimension, making objects appear more realistic. (remember or watch the 5 tone values lesson)
Poetic License
She explains the concept of poetic license, altering the composition for practical reasons or artistic effect.
Throughout, Helen Van Wyk emphasizes practical painting techniques while encouraging a relaxed approach to potential mistakes, underscoring the importance of developing one's own style.
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The terms she describes things are very different, helpful..makes you think differently and that's valuable
Yes, alternate views can be eye-opening and challenge our assumptions. Thanks for watching.
@@HelenVanWykbroom then needle. I always used just the needle. Was a nervous wreck the entire time.
I bet she was one cool lady.😊
@john-nx4xn ...gotta stay calm... I know it’s easier said than done sometimes. Helen mentions the broom/needle thing twice in this lesson-at 4:50 and again at 7:36. Maybe reviewing those sections could help make you feel more comfortable with the technique. Also, try using a mahlstick-it’ll steady your hand and reduce some of that nervousness when working with the finer details. Practicing with the larger brush first to get comfortable, then moving to the smaller, should make the whole process feel smoother. Good luck-you’ve got this!
I just discovered her artwork, what a wonderful person to share her technique and paintings on TH-cam and pbs. She deserves to be remembered.
...And she will be remembered through her video lessons. Happy to hear you found Helen, I don't think you will be disappointed. Thanks for posting, it's appreciated.
She's Amazing! She can only live on in us! What a talented Lady she was.👌💞
Well said. I'm certain Helen would appreciate your kind words. Thanks very much and hope you enjoy her other lessons.
Her videos really merit several visits because of the content she packs into each one. Often it takes several or more to capture the points...sometime very subtle..
Yes, there are comments similar to yours on other videos. Helen's commentary is incredibly informative and plentiful. Thank you for supporting the channel; it's greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much for uploading this. I have all her books but I just love to see her in her videos.
What a brilliant teacher and such an engaging personality. ❤
Those books are definitely keepers. A bit of history; Helen's earliest books were hand-bound with a comb binding machine. It's great to hear you enjoy the video lessons. Thanks for your comment.
Yes, I have all her books, every painter should have..
Yes, I have all her books, every painter should have..
The picture-in-picture technique you guys are using is pretty cool. I don't think the original videos had this feature. But it gives me better insight to where she is going with her brush strokes. I hope you keep doing it.
Yes, as part of the remastering to improve audio and video, additional information is sometimes added to the lessons. This information is usually placed on the left side, as you noticed, but not always. Glad to hear you like the improvements. Thanks for your comment and continued support; it is greatly appreciated.
@@HelenVanWyki noticed those additional information I didn't know that you added them while editing the videos. Thank you so much for your efforts, it's very appreciated, they help a lot
The goal is to enhance the learning experience by making the techniques and details as clear as possible. Thanks for your support and for noticing the effort put into the remastering process.
Love this lesson! Lots of valuable information.
Great to hear you like this one. It was one of her very first lessons. Thanks.
Bthankyou Helen you are wonderful
Helen passed away some time ago, but I’m sure she would be grateful for your kind words. Thanks very much for posting.
Thank you!!
A master indeed❤
She truly was and from her teaching style, it's clear she really enjoyed teaching.
Thanks for posting this video 😁
You're welcome and it's great you enjoyed the video. Thanks
It's lovely 😊
...The King Of Cartoons says: "Let the Cartoons Begin !!!"
This seems like a reference from the Pee-wee Herman show and that you are excited to see Helen's video lessons. Hopefully you'll enjoy the content and find inspiration in her teaching techniques. Let the creativity begin. Thanks for the comment.
could you please tell me what brand of paints do you use and the color palette you have? thank you
Sadly, Helen passed away in 1994, so a direct response from her to your questions isn't possible. However, there is a treasure trove of commentary within her lessons, some of which is searchable via the lesson's transcript. I do believe she used Grumbacher oils but can't be certain. I'll update this post if I come across the lesson where she discusses this. Thanks for posting. It's appreciated.
@@HelenVanWyk Thank you for the response. So sorry that she's no longer here to teach us more..
pls post season 3
Will do but it takes time. Thanks for posting.
☕️🤎
Good video but all of the commercials are too much to deal with .
No ads for me... I subscribe to TH-cam Premium. It is so great not getting all the interruptions, especially on longer videos.
@@davidc1878💯
I was hesitant. But when I finally got utube premium I was so happy. I think I pay 12.99 a month. It may be more now. U'll not regret it! Give it a try. I bet you don't cancel it... ✌️
P.s. my son convinced me after he kept hearing me complain about "all the dang commercials!".😊
Thanks for the feedback. We do ad-free streaming from time to time and for uninterrupted viewing that could be an option. Also, while TH-cam's ad placement can vary, you might find fewer mid-roll ads immediately after a video is posted. This isn’t guaranteed, but it might be worth trying.